The shootout had looked to be heading Burkina Faso's way when El-Hadary's opposite number Herve Koffi, 24 years his junior, made a sprawling save from Hamed El Said's opening penalty.

But El-Hadary has never rushed things. And, when Koffi himself stepped up to take the Stallions' fourth spotkick with the final just two strikes away, his effort was dramatically beaten away by the veteran keeper.

Parity in the shootout was restored, but El-Hadary was not yet done. When Amr Warda converted Egypt's fifth penalty, the Pharaohs edged 4-3 ahead.

El-Hadary had beaten Burkina Faso in the semifinal way back in 1998 en-route to lifting the trophy, and had a chance to send Egypt to African football's showpiece once more.

As ever, he didn't disappoint, saving the decisive effort from Chelsea loanee Bertrand Traoré, a man less than half his age.

The 'seven-year clean sheet'

The Pharaohs progress to a final against Ghana or Cameroon, but it was Burkina Faso that started the game more brightly.

You certainly might have noticed Egypt's opponents had enjoyed a day more rest, as the Stallions arrived first to every second ball, winning much of the midfield battle.

The imposing figure of Aristide Bancé -- their matchwinner in the quarterfinals and a veteran of 19 different clubs -- was providing a consistent focal point in attack.

Without star player Jonathan Pitroipa for the duration of this tournament, and Jonathan Zongo since the opening game, Burkina Faso instead relied on the clear sense of togetherness instilled by coach Paulo Duarte.

And, as is so often the case, the dominant side's profligacy was eventually punished.

It had been a quiet first half for Egypt's star man, but Mohammad Salah came to the fore when it counted, guiding a measured strike beyond Koffi into the top corner just after the hour.

It was the first real glimpse of the Pharaohs' pedigree, but a single goal wasn't to be enough after three consecutive 1-0 wins this tournament.

Just eight minutes later, Bancé further justified his inclusion in the Burkina Faso attack, controlling the ball on his chest and pivoting in one motion, before arrowing a right-footed volley beyond El-Hadary.

It was the first time the veteran goalkeeper had picked the ball out of the net at the Cup of Nations since the 2010 quarterfinal against Cameroon-- a run spanning over 10 hours of football.

Thanks to his penalty shootout heroics, he may well be facing the Indomitable Lions again come Sunday.

Sport meets politics

The win will be particularly significant for Egypt given the Pharaohs are playing their first AFCON since 2011's Arab Spring swept across the Middle East and North Africa.

On-pitch travails have coincided with political turmoil off it.

Having won the tournament for a third time in succession in 2010, Egypt finished bottom of its qualifying group just a year later -- below the likes of Niger and Sierra Leone.